Takagi Saho, Koyasu Hikari, Hattori Madoka, Nagasawa Takumi, Maejima Michiro, Nagasawa Miho, Kikusui Takefumi, Saito Atsuko
Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Azabu University, 1-17-71 Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara 252-5201, Japan.
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Kojimachi Business Center Building, 5-3-1 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan.
Animals (Basel). 2023 Jul 6;13(13):2217. doi: 10.3390/ani13132217.
Physical and mental effects stemming from COVID-19 have impacted not only people's lives but also the lives of their pets, which in recent years are often seen as members of the family. This study aimed to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan on pets and their owners. Participants reported changes in physical activity and mental health, as well as working conditions and frequency of interaction with pets, before and after behavioural restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We also asked about their pets' behaviours using the Feline Behavioural Assessment and Research Questionnaire (Fe-BARQ) and the Canine Behavioural Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ). This study showed that most cat and dog owners spent more time at home due to the COVID-19 behavioural restrictions and that the frequency of contact interaction with their pets increased. However, this study showed higher stress-related behaviours (e.g., cats: excessive grooming; dogs: aggression towards owners) among pets whose owners increased contact interaction. Furthermore, owners' low mental health was correlated with high stress-related behaviours (e.g., touch sensitivity) in pets. The results of this study indicate that the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan may have affected not only the lives of owners but also the interaction between owners and their pets, and consequently their pets' behaviours. Therefore, there is also concern that changes in lifestyle patterns caused by pandemics could form a negative feedback loop between the health status of both owners and their pets.
新冠疫情所带来的身心影响不仅波及人类生活，还对他们的宠物产生了影响，近年来宠物常常被视为家庭成员。本研究旨在探究日本新冠疫情对宠物及其主人的影响。参与者报告了在新冠疫情导致行为限制前后，他们在身体活动、心理健康、工作条件以及与宠物互动频率方面的变化。我们还使用猫行为评估与研究问卷（Fe-BARQ）和犬行为评估与研究问卷（C-BARQ）询问了他们宠物的行为。本研究表明，由于新冠疫情的行为限制，大多数猫和狗的主人在家时间增多，与宠物的接触互动频率增加。然而，本研究显示，在主人增加接触互动的宠物中，与压力相关的行为（如猫：过度梳理毛发；狗：对主人有攻击性）更为常见。此外，主人心理健康状况不佳与宠物中与高压力相关的行为（如触觉敏感）存在关联。本研究结果表明，日本因新冠疫情导致的封锁不仅可能影响主人的生活，还可能影响主人与宠物之间的互动，进而影响宠物的行为。因此，人们还担心疫情导致的生活方式模式变化可能在主人和宠物的健康状况之间形成负面反馈循环。
